day lilies and song birds

this is well underway now,

filled with one signature of eight pages

pages that have fold-outs and add-ons and prints and stitches and words...

i'm not done, but the structure is there 

and the lilies and birds are, too.

it's a record of this summer of deep peace

of joy in change.

and a wee bit of fear, as in respect, too.

mostly, though, it's a journal of content.

 the changes here

are brilliant

 and at the new place called home

 view from the little big room.

the pond is a stream now,

almost all dried up.

 in yesterday's mail, 

a

sweet tiny dress card from aimee

yesterday i went out

in the rain, 

in boots and hat

gathering printing plants.

i came in and made three large pieces

all finished up and in the press.

just in case of ticks

i showered and shampooed and did the thorough check.

remember the hat?

well, my hair is sometimes more out of control than i know...

and this was what remained:

a coil of long curls

a leaf and

a worm.

geesh!

a mouse story

when you teach at the morgan

they ask you to supply a sample

something for their table that exemplifies 

your work or what the workshop

will offer.

fair enough.

 so when i went into my library to get a stamp

to mail my bit to aimee 

at the morgan.

this is what accosted my eyes at 6:45 a.m.

 this is my stationary drawer

about 12 x 16

it had been 

apparently

 appropriated for a nest

 while i was away.

i open this drawer quite frequently, 

since stamps live here

as well as envelopes.

 i was puzzled by the bright threads

until i examined the rug in my kitchen

woven by the amazing susanne arens

and much used and loved by me.

and now nibbled by a mouse momma to be

 she also shredded only handmade paper bits

from my stash.

the favorite was from 

the yahoo papermakers

stationary swatch swap from long ago.

this was how the fringe looked after the last wash 

(i had cut it down over the years

from a generous six to three inches).

sigh.

farmhouse living is definitely

NOT for the faint of heart.

teaching

tuesday after labor day

i went back to school

meetings meetings meetings

and finally, on thursday, students.
a very good class.

aimee remembered how it is for me

and sent this

and see-there's still

indigo on my thumbnail!

from long ridge, where nancy

brewed a mighty vat!

my heart will remember this

 and this very large squishy one

 early september sky

 and in another direction, this.

~~~

there has been,

while i was away at work

not attending,

a turning towards winter.

we slipped over the edge

and there's no going back

only reminders.

weekend stuff

aimee met hannah years ago, 

and now she's met ian.

all the way over in portland!

yes, he is tall; aimee is not short.

i love this picture!

and they had it made

just for me!

hugs to you both.
~~~
and
~~~
friday afternoon i taught the second
of two classes at st lawrence university's
sustainability semester
there's a lovely post here
and maybe a picture or two when 
i get to it!

i was very impressed with this
amazing group of students 

friday thoughts in snow

 that damn porcupine has been feasting

on my one big white pine

 and you won't believe 

how hard it is to follow it

back to where the tracks

become a confusion

a vanishing

a something i don't understand.

sigh.

i wish it wouldn't.

 a nice big snow storm here

an elder dog prefers not to forge through 

(not many leaps left)

i hope there will be skiing tomorrow

after i shovel or plow out.

the house is creaking 

as the wind becomes

a bit more serious.

that pink comes from

a cold dyebath 

with lemon zinger in it.

and the ball of lokta is very tough.

the cloth is harem or strong cheese cloth,

with globes of its own.

 during clean up 

a few moons

have surfaced, and a few

are missing.

and a few prints,

a surprise, 

a happy surprise collaboration

from aimee, 

how textile

and paper

and print

converge.

i like this very much!

rediscovery

in 1999 i attended my first pbi,

the paper and book intensive,
(actually only half of the session)

i took a marvelous class with

mary ann mckellar schwarcz

whose website i found via aimee lee.

mary ann knows books, fiber, paper, wool.

and animals.
(and probably a few other things, too!)
mary ann pushed me in some directions
but the main thing was the concept
of book/paper/textile being all of a piece
all related, all connected.
above are some of the pieces i made
with her or after her workshop
with her inspiration.

sunday walk

 little heifer 7, i rename you aimee

she knows why!

mooo-ooooo

there were

eventually

a herd of heifers

looking at me 

crazy woman, laughing in a car!

 around the new place

 i thought i could easily identify this

 but i can't

 anyone know?

 an inky cap of some sort?

probably 8 or so inches.

i was on my belly

on the side of the road

up close and deep 

 found here

 on the most amazing

 autumn sunday

i forgot to show claudia

who stopped in

the dyed sleeve of her linen jacket.

the town of russell's way

to point out 

unexpected rocks emerging

from the pavement!

(not me, just the spray paint.)

take

 "take what you need and leave the rest"

i obeyed this invocation

from nature's storehouse bulletin board

 so i did, and passed it on 

and it came back to me

 a package of wonders

and a book of experiments

from the alchemist aimee

go see this post! you must!

 how i love the work

from asao shimura at asa press